Laos

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Laos

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Sathalanalat Praxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao/Democratic People's Republic of Laos Area 236,790 sq km/91,424 sq mi Capital Vientiane Language Lao (official), French, English, ethnic languages Religion Theravada Buddhist 85%, animist beliefs among mountain dwellers Time difference GMT +7 Major holidays 24 January, 13–15 April, 1 May, 2 December


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Louangphrabang (the former royal capital), Pakse, Savannakhet Physical features landlocked state with high mountains in east; Mekong River in west; rainforest covers nearly 60% of land Airports eight airports with paved runways, including two international airports; total passengers carried: 219,000 (2003 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 32,620 km/20,269 mi, of which 14.1% paved (2002 est); passenger cars: 3.4 per 1,000 people (1996 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Choummaly Sayasone from 2006 Head of government Bouasone Bouphavanh from 2006 Political system communist Political executive communist Administrative divisions 16 provinces, one municipality (Vientiane), and one special region Political party Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP, the only legal party), socialist Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 29,100; plus paramilitary forces of 100,000 (2006 est) Conscription military service is compulsory for a minimum of 18 months Defence spend (% GDP) 2 (2003 est) Education spend (% GDP) 2.8 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 1.2 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency new kip GDP (US$) 2.9 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 7.3 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 2.6 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 2,020 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 7.7% (2006 est) Unemployment 2.4% (2005 est) Labour force 60% agriculture, 15% industry, 25% services (2004 est) Foreign debt (US$) 2.1 billion (2004 est) Major trading partners Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Germany, France Resources coal, tin, gypsum, baryte, lead, zinc, nickel, potash, iron ore; small quantities of gold, silver, precious stones Industries processing of agricultural produce, sawmilling, textiles and garments, handicrafts, basic consumer goods Exports textiles and garments, timber and wood products, electricity, motorcycles, coffee, tin, gypsum. Principal market: Thailand 29.5% (2005) Imports mineral fuels, consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, cement, cotton yarn, foodstuffs. Principal source: Thailand 66% (2005) Arable land 4% (2006 est) Agricultural products rice, maize, tobacco, cotton, coffee, sugar cane, cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes; livestock rearing (pigs, poultry, and cattle); fishing; forest resources including valuable wood such as Teruk (forest covered about 47% of the country in 1995); opium is produced but its manufacture is controlled by the state


POPULATION

Population 6,057,800 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2.2% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 25 (2005 est) Urban population (% of total) 22 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 41%, 15–59 54%, 60+ 5% (2005 est) Ethnic groups Laotian, predominantly the lowland Lao Lum (over 60%); the upland and mountain-dwelling Lao Theung (22%), and the tribal Laotai and the Lao Soung (9%); Vietnamese Chinese (1%) Life expectancy 55 (men); 58 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 83 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 5 Literacy rate 77% (men); 56% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 0.6 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 1.2 (2003 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 0.1 (2005 est) AIDS deaths <100 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 66 (urban); 32 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 1.3 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 10.8 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 148 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 56 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 1.7 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 0.4 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

c. 2000–500 BC Early Bronze Age civilizations in central Mekong River and Plain of Jars regions. 5th–8th centuries Occupied by immigrants from southern China. 8th century onwards Theravada Buddhism spread by Mon monks. 9th–13th centuries Part of the sophisticated Khmer Empire, centred on Angkor in Cambodia. 12th century Small independent principalities, notably Louangphrabang, established by Lao invaders from Thailand and Yunnan, southern China; they adopted Buddhism. 14th century United by King Fa Ngum; the first independent Laotian state, Lan Xang, formed. It was to dominate for four centuries, broken only by a period of Burmese rule 1574–1637. 17th century First visited by Europeans. 1713 The Lan Xang kingdom split into three separate kingdoms, Louangphrabang, Vientiane, and Champassac, which became tributaries of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century. 1893–1945 Laos was a French protectorate, comprising the three principalities of Louangphrabang, Vientiane, and Champassac. 1945 Temporarily occupied by Japan. 1946 Retaken by France, despite opposition by the Chinese-backed Lao Issara (Free Laos) nationalist movement. 1950 Granted semi-autonomy in French Union, as an associated state under the constitutional monarchy of the king of Louangphrabang. 1954 Independence achieved from France under the Geneva Agreements, but civil war broke out between a moderate royalist faction of the Lao Issara, led by Prince Souvanna Phouma, and the communist Chinese-backed Pathet Lao (Land of the Lao) led by Prince Souphanouvong. 1957 A coalition government, headed by Souvanna Phouma, was established by the Vientiane Agreement. 1959 Savang Vatthana became king. 1960 Right-wing pro-Western government seized power, headed by Prince Boun Gum. 1962 Geneva Agreement established a new coalition government, led by Souvanna Phouma, but civil war continued, the Pathet Lao receiving backing from the North Vietnamese, and Souvanna Phouma from the USA. 1973 Vientiane ceasefire agreement divided the country between the communists and the Souvanna Phouma regime and brought the withdrawal of US, Thai, and North Vietnamese forces. 1975 Communists seized power; republic proclaimed, with Prince Souphanouvong as head of state and Communist Party leader Kaysone Phomvihane as controlling prime minister. 1979 Food shortages and flight of 250,000 refugees to Thailand led to easing of drive towards nationalization and agricultural collectivization. 1985 Greater economic liberalization received encouragement from Soviet Union's reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev. 1989 First assembly elections held since communist takeover; Vietnamese troops withdrawn. 1991 Security and cooperation pact signed with Thailand, and agreement reached on phased repatriation of Laotian refugees. 1995 USA lifted its 20-year aid embargo. 1996 Military tightened its grip on political affairs, but inward investment and private enterprise continued to be encouraged, fuelling economic expansion. 1997 Membership of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced. 1998 Khamtay Siphandone became president; replaced as prime minister by Sisavath Keobounphanh. 2001 Boungnang Volachit became prime minister. 2002 Parliamentary elections held; all but one of 166 candidates were from ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party. 2003 US-based Lao exile group claimed Lao Citizens Movement for Democracy (LCMD) started revolution in 11 provinces. Government denied this and also that LCMD had killed three soldiers in clashes. 2004 As chair of ASEAN, Laos hosted its annual summit. 2005 Loans needed for Nam Theun Two hydroelectric dam project approved by World Bank. Although expected to produce energy exports, dam criticized because of feared environmental and social impact. Foundation stone laid in November. 2006 Choummaly Sayasone, leader of the ruling communists, succeeded Khamtay Siphandone as president. More than 400 members of Hmong ethnic group, who lived as fugitives in the jungle from 1975 and were supporters of pro-US government, surrendered to authorities. 2007 42-year-old woman became first person to die from bird flu in Laos; 15-year-old girl also infected with H5N1; both from Vientiane province. General Vang Pao, considered by many as Hmong leader-in-exile, and eight other respected members of Hmong community living in USA, arrested on charges of plotting coup in Laos. Laos government pleased; Hmong community in USA shocked.


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